Spanish Citizen’s Climate Assembly could still deliver — if the government allow it
The Spanish Government’s credibility was left in serious doubt following a meeting held with NGOs and pressure groups on the May 26.
It was set to announce plans to hold a Citizens’ Assembly in September, in line with the recently passed Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition, to define a national response to the climate crisis.
The timidly worded piece of legislation, however, was disappointing in its lack of clarity and conviction, but ultimately unsurprising, coming from a government that has been continually reluctant to speak harsh truths to the big economic players that sustain it.
The Citizens Assembly is potentially the last chance that Spain, as a nation, has to address the climate crisis in an effective manner. Clearly, its government is unwilling to make decisions that it fears will compromise its immediate economic interests, so it is left to its people to take action. Unless the government ensures that the Assembly is properly constituted (see the recommendations below), however, this momentous opportunity will be squandered, and all our futures endangered.
There is no shortage of advice on how to plan a successful Citizens’ Assembly, based on evidence from efforts in other countries. Guidance from the OECD details clearly the key elements required for an assembly that is effective and democratic:
- That the government commits publicly to enact the recommendations of the Assembly. (NB: The Spanish Government has so far explicitly refused to make such a commitment)
- That the Assembly should be a microcosm of the general public, ensured through random sampling from a stratified population, with independent statistical and sociological oversight, to ensure that the group matches the country’s demographic profile.
- Participants should have access to a full range of accurate, relevant and accessible evidence and expertise, and should be able to request and obtain additional information.
- Anyone should easily be able to find information about the whole process: design, methodology, recruitment detail, experts consulted, recommendations made, the authorities’ responses.
- Participants should meet at least four full days in person, preferably more, to ensure quality of deliberation. (NB: Experience of virtual meetings during part of the French process has shown them to be notably less effective, yet the Spanish government has already opted for an entirely virtual assembly)
The Government has yet to indicate how it intends to meet the recommendations outlined in points 2, 3 or 4, but the evidence so far suggests that its intentions for the Citizens Assembly are less than sincere and are more likely an act of mere political theatre and tokenism, designed to appease the media and the electorate.
The unwillingness of the Government to ensure the success of this Citizens’ Assembly is astounding. Despite the fact that the Government itself has declared a climate emergency, it refuses to take concrete measures. This inaction exemplifies the cowardice and short-termism that has defined this government.
It is clear that it does not want to take responsibility for the difficult decisions that must be made, so someone else must do that for them. And what could be more convenient than to hand off the responsibility to its citizens to decide their own fate? In doing this, it can avoid taking the blame for the choices that it is so clearly averse to making, and the people can finally see real change enacted, if that is what they choose. It’s a win-win.
However, it is yet to be decided what the Government’s decision regarding the Assembly will be; whether the Assembly will be one with real teeth and the power to bring about meaningful reform, or whether it will simply be a TV-op for a government extremely keen to receive some positive press.
Until June 16, any citizen can review the government’s proposal on https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/cambio-climatico/participacion-publica/asamblea-clima.aspx and send comments or thoughts regarding the Assembly to [email protected], under the title, “Normativa. Asamblea Ciudadana para el Clima“.
The opportunity for our Government to take control over the imminent crisis has passed, so it is time for us, the people, to take our future, and the future of our children, into our own hands.
The results are in! DiEM25 members decide movement’s official stance on Israel-Palestine
After weeks of lively debates within our movement (see forum discussion and video debate), DiEM25 members have decided that our position on Israel-Palestine should be to propose a Single Democratic Secular State solution.
See the results below:
More than 52% of eligible members turned out to vote in order to decide DiEM25’s stance. DiEM25 members had more than two weeks to review the two proposals and decide which of the three options below to vote for. The vote took place after a lengthy forum discussion and a recorded video debate — featuring special guest Roger Waters — between proponents of the different options.
The All-Member Vote on Israel-Palestine included the following three options:
- Option 1: Proposal by the Coordinating Collective
- Option 2: Alternative proposal by 11 individual members of DiEM25
- Option 3: DiEM25 should not, at least for now, take a position on Israel-Palestine
We also organised two DiEM TV events on this topic. One of the events was hosted by Yanis Varoufakis, featuring special guest Omar Barghouti, co-founder of the BDS movement. The second event was hosted by David Adler and Arturo Desimone, and featured Norman Finkelstein, American political scientist, activist and author, and Mouin Rabbani, Dutch-Palestinian Middle East analyst specialising in the Arab-Israeli conflict and Palestinian affairs.
There was a genuine debate within DiEM25 over the last weeks, which culminated in a close yet clear outcome, which shows just how considered the vote was.
This is yet another fantastic example of how it is entirely possible to implement truly pioneering democratic processes at the transnational level, involving citizens from across Europe and the World to ultimately decide DiEM25’s official positions on important topics, such as this one.
More information concerning follow-up actions to come.
Last Month in DiEM: May — and what’s coming up next
Residents of Jaffa protesting on May 15, 2021. ©Ap Photo/Heidi Levine
In light of recent, all-too-familiar developments in Israel-Palestine, the Coordinating Collective (CC) has concluded that DiEM25 can no longer postpone the adoption of an official position on Israel/Palestine. Which is why DiEM25 launched an All-Member Vote on this topic. Results to be announced soon!
What we did in May!
- What Europe Must Now Do, DiEM25’s Progressive European Policy Agenda for the 2020s
DiEM25 members have voted for What Europe Must Now Do, DiEM25’s Progressive European Policy Agenda for the 2020s. Our Agenda comprises policies drawn from DiEM25’s comprehensive Green New Deal for Europe as well as policy initiatives honed at the outset of the 2020 pandemic. Check the results here - People’s Gatherings
DiEM25 Turkey hosted a Gathering on Culture! You can see the replay here. Belgian DiEMers talked about healthcare and how to make it a fairer and affordable system for everyone! On June 10 at 20:00 CEST, they’ll be tackling foreign policy. Sign up to the event in Dutch, English or French. DiEM25 Romania has been working hard on developing its own national questionnaire! It will be published soon. If you’d like to organise a Gathering tackling Romanian questions, let us know here.
- META Launch
DiEM25 and MeRA25’s Centre for Postcapitalist Civilisation was introduced to the public and press, presenting its aims and its activities. Through Research, Art, Argument and Poem, mέta is working for a rupture from our grim present – a feat that presupposes a capacity to perceive and imagine the world anew. The centre is an initiative of MERA25 in partnership with DiEM25 and the Progressive International. To find out more, please visit META’s website, YouTube and Facebook. - ‘Tell us your story’ campaign
DiEM Voice and the Green New Deal for Europe launched the “Tell us your story” campaign. We invite you to participate by telling us your story in a short video and expose the real problems you are facing in your life: jobs, housing, healthcare, the prospect of the so-called “green” transition that leaves many citizens in our societies behind, but also environmental pollution and climate problems which are rising exponentially. Read more
New articles to sharpen your activist skills
Grassroots activists looking to become more effective, take note! We have published a series of articles on how to improve your activist credentials. Starting with: a guide on how to build a team of activists in a pandemic, and a 15-minute behind-the-scenes video (and article) on our successful Campaign Accelerator-powered action to save a piece of Portugal’s natural beauty.
Join our meetings!
Join us to know how to get involved! In our meetings, you will get to know the team behind DiEM25, find out what has brought us all together and how we can get engaged in our movement – and have an impact! The meetings are open to all DiEM25 Members and serve different purposes. Please visit our daily-updated calendar to learn about our upcoming DiEM25 monthly meetings
- Activist Meeting open to all members
1st and 2d Wednesdays of the month at 7 PM CEST - Onboarding Meeting to new members
3d Wednesday of the month at 7 PM CEST - DSC Coordination Meeting to those who are part of a local group or want to start one
4th Wednesday of the month at 7 PM CEST:
Register for these calls through our calendar!
What we will do in June!
- Join People’s Gatherings and shape DiEM25’s political manifesto in your country!
Have a look at DiEM25’s events page to join Gatherings near you. Is nothing happening where you live? No problem! Any DiEMer can be a Gathering organiser – find out how during our bi-weekly open calls. DiEM25 Austria is looking for DiEMers to help develop its People’s Gatherings questionnaire. Let us know at [email protected] if you’d like to help out! - DiEM Voice is on the move
DiEM Voice has launched a Design team where members with creative skills can help other members and groups create graphics and videos to support their campaigns and events. Please contact us if you want to be part of the team or if you need any support for your initiative: [email protected]. Voice is also preparing the launch of a brand-new Arts and Culture Thematic DSC, to start the discussion about a future cultural policy for DiEM25. - “Anything to say?” exhibition opened on Saturday, June 5, in Geneva!
If you live in Geneva, you might have seen the exhibition “Anything to say?” by sculptor and DiEM25 member Davide Dormino. The exhibition took place on Saturday, June 5 at 11 AM, at the Pâquis Pier, in front of the Geneva Jet d’eau. Throughout the day, the public were able to show their solidarity and take turns in standing on the statues. Davide Dormino has also participated in DiEM Voice’s “Raise your voice for Assange” exhibition. - Green New Deal for Europe is underway!
The Green New Deal for Europe is going to be revised! As a very first step towards the 3rd revision of our political agenda “Blueprint for Europe’s Just Transition”, we’ve decided to identify and fill in the gaps of the policy paper through the formation of new Thematic DSCs! Soon we will also call for the formation of the Policy Taskforce, so make sure you follow our Forum and MatterMost channels. With the new strategy, actions and goals we are heading towards a just and sustainable Europe! But we need you to get involved, so reach out to us at [email protected]!
DiEM25 in Germany has an Electoral Wing!
DiEM25 in Germany is building its Electoral Wing and writing a DiEM25 manifesto for the country!
Return to Greece: Our journey to the first MeRA25 party congress
On June 4, Clemens Holtmann and Johannes Fehr (Board Member of Demokratie in Europa) — DiEM25’s German Electoral Wing — travelled to Greece to attend MeRA25‘s first party Congress. Read more about their experience below:
With the pandemic still ongoing in many parts of Europe, we made the decision to travel to Greece at the last minute. We travelled from Berlin to Athens in order to witness the first MeRA25 party congress which took place place from June 4 – 6. And we did not regret our decision.
MeRA25 is DiEM25’s Greek Electoral Wing, which entered parliament in the summer of 2019. The party, which was launched in May 2018, has since taken major steps to be represented in every corner of Greece, as we were about to find out.
The party congress was held close to the port of Piraeus in the Drapetsona area. Friday evening started with a number of speakers. By tradition, other parties were present and invited to give a short speech. International messages of support by Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, Jeremy Corbyn and many others followed. Party leader Yanis Varoufakis later concluded the evening with a highly anticipated and well-received speech.
Jeremy Corbyn’s message of support for MeRA25
On Saturday, the floor passed to the party members who presented the program and plenty of amendments. Online voting followed on Sunday, so everyone had enough time to reflect on the proposals and participate.
Over the whole three days, we had the chance to speak with many party members. Our impression is that MeRA25 has a diverse membership, uniting a variety of political opinions from the Left. The discussion culture is extremely lively, and different parts of Greek society are represented.
On the final day, different unions, as well as environmental and social movements, were given the opportunity to speak. And so we too had the chance to deliver a message of support, which was: Sen íssaste móni sas. Masí ímmaste se aftón ton agóna! (You are not alone. We are in this together!). You can watch it below:
Johannes Fehr: “MeRA25 friends in Greece: you are not alone. We are building resistance everywhere!”
The congress ended with two concerts from Kostas Zervoudakis and Spyros Grammenos, both well known Greek artists. The atmosphere during the weekend left us inspired and full of hope for our political project at DiEM25. We aim to build a political force that is strong enough so that the next OXI will be shouted in Greece, in Germany and all over Europe, so loud that it cannot be overheard!
Below are the links where you can click to watch the video of the public events, which took place on Friday and Sunday (most of the content is in Greek):
Watch the Friday livestream
Watch the Sunday livestream
Clemens Holtmann is a member of Demokratie in Europa. Johannes Fehr is a member of DiEM25’s Coordinating Collective and also a Board Member of Demokratie in Europa.
[Video] Johannes Fehr: “MeRA25 friends in Greece: you are not alone. We are building resistance everywhere!”
Johannes Fehr’s speech at the first MeRA25 Congress in Athens, Greece, June 6, 2021
Johannes is a Board Member of DiEM25’s German Electoral Wing: Demokratie in Europa. And he’s also a member of DiEM25’s Coordinating Collective.
Below is the transcript of Johannes’ speech:
Kalispéra Agapités Synodipórisses, Agapití Synodipóri (Dear comrades and friends,)
Imme o Johannes appo to DiEM eíkosi pénte stin Jermanía (I’m Johannes from DiEM25 in Germany.)
It is a pleasure to be here this weekend at the first MeRA25 party congress. I think I can speak for DiEMers from all over Europe and say: We admire what you all have built here. It is inspiring us!
My main message to you today is to assure you that you are not alone. We are building resistance everywhere, in Germany, here in Greece and all across Europe. We are spreading the hope for change together!
Only with a transnational movement like DiEM25 will we be able to be strong enough to face our powerful opponents. Yanis mentioned them on Friday: Deutsche Bank and Fraport to name two examples from my country. Those big business companies operate globally. So we have to face them globally!
In Germany, DiEMers recognise that the German government has used and continues to use its economic and political power to blackmail Eurozone member states like Greece to impose neoliberal reforms and austerity policies. They are protecting the interests of big business instead of the interests of the people in Greece and in Germany. We are aware of the suffering and misery this policy has brought to you here.
And we will work to change it. We will fight to end the policies of blackmailing and austerity! And we will demand that forced privatisations of formerly public companies that were sold as part of austerity measures will be reversed. For example: We will demand that the Greek airports that were sold to the German company Fraport AG will be returned.
And we will campaign for it in Germany and with you here in Greece!
To conclude and underline: You are not alone. We are in this together! We will work to change politics. Together, we will build a political force that is strong enough, so the next OXI will be shouted in Greece, in Germany and all over Europe. So loud that it cannot be overheard!
Sen íssaste móni sas. Masí ímmaste se aftón ton agóna! (You are not alone. We are in this together!)
Efcharistó pu makússate kä kárpe díem (Thank you for listening and carpe DiEM)
———————
MeRA25 holds first phase of its Consultative Congress
MeRA25, DiEM25’s Greek Electoral Wing, held the first phase of its Consultative Congress this weekend in Athens.
The first phase of the party’s Congress focussed on the adoption of MeRA25’s positions regarding 21 thematic sectors (health, education, culture, the environment, the economy and so on) which will form the party’s political agenda for the current period.
The Congress began on Friday, June 4, with greetings by party representatives, followed by more than a dozen persons responsible for different policy areas who gave an introduction to the policy papers that the party put up for a vote.
This was followed by a series of speeches by key figures on the global progressive scene, including Jeremy Corbyn, Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, Rafael Correa, Slavoj Žižek, Caroline Lucas, amongst others, as well as other personalities from the arts (Ken Loach, Roger Waters, Brian Eno, etc), who expressed their solidarity with the Greek people and MeRA25 for the struggles faced by the people of Greece.
This was followed by a speech by the Palestinian ambassador to Greece who later gifted Yanis Varoufakis, MeRA25’s leader and MP, with a Palestinian scarf.
On Saturday, June 5, a total of more than 100 delegates spoke: about education, health, local government, economy, tourism, the environment, islands and many more other topics.
On the third and last day, Sunday June 6, delegates voted electronically based on the discussion and dialogue from the previous day.
The conference will end with a speech by Yanis Varoufakis, followed by a musical performance of two outstanding artists, Dimitris Zervoudakis and Spyros Grammenos.
More information coming soon.
The second phase of MeRA25’s Consultative Congress will take place in November of 2021 [exact dates to be announced].
ΜeRΑ25 Congress: A Celebration of Democracy — June 4-6
The 1st Consultative Conference of MeRA25 will be held in the Multi-unit Site of Drapetsona Fertilizers and its proceedings will be opened by the General Secretary of MeRA25, Yanis Varoufakis as the keynote speaker.
This is the first phase of MeRA25’s 1st Consultative Conference, whereas the second phase will take place next November. The first part of the Conference will focus on the discussion and adoption of the positions of MeRA25 on 21 thematic sectors (health, education, culture, the environment, the economy and so on) that will form the party’s political agenda for the current period.
- On the first day, Friday, June 4, following the official opening of the Conference with a speech by Yanis Varoufakis after 9pm., there will be intercessions by key figures on the global progressive scene (Corbyn, Chomsky, Klein, Correa, Žižek, amongst others), as well as other personalities from the Arts (Ken Loach, Roger Waters, Brian Eno, as well as others ), who will express their solidarity with the Greek people and MeRA25 for the struggles they are waging in our country.
- On Saturday, June 5, there will be presentations by delegates.
- On Sunday, June 6, voting will take place electronically, whereby the participants, on the basis of Saturday’s debates, will be able to vote on their devices, from their locations, without requiring their physical presence.
- After the closing speech by Yanis Varoufakis, the Conference will close with an excellent concert by two outstanding artists, Dimitris Zervoudakis and Spyros Grammenos.
*The Conference’s proceedings will take place in the evenings, from 19:00
People’s Gathering on Arts and Culture in Turkey
On May 15, DiEM25 Turkey organised an online People’s Gatherings about Culture, bringing together eighteen participants (seven of them DiEM25 members) from various branches of cultural life in Turkey to discuss prominent issues surrounding culture in the country; the aim of the gathering being to turn to inspiring models and propose solutions.
Among the participants, most were somehow involved with the cultural sector, including art critics, architects, film directors, university scholars, art students and young graduates.
Central issues discussed related to cultural policy, organisation at central vs local level, sponsor support systems, as well as the current situation induced by the global pandemic.
All participants agreed on the importance of a long-term, consistent and well-designed cultural policy. However, participants had different opinions and feelings about adopting a central support system opposed to a local one. We observed that some participants had in fact, completely lost hope about such support systems being implemented.
Here are some positive initiatives that were discussed and proposed:
- The promotion of artists and their work abroad.
- The majority of the national or local budget being allocated to support creative individuals, rather than big-scale popular activities and events.
- The transfer of a small percentage of paid entrance fees to cultural places (e.g., cinemas or museums) or book fees to related foundations that support cultural initiatives.
- The organisation of competitions, awards and related events with the evaluation of artistic work by a qualified jury.
Overview of the current cultural situation in Turkey
During the gathering, art/cultural studies students and young graduates raised their voice against a hopeless and highly uncertain future. They complained that genuine open competitions are scarce, that the market is completely superficial and that staff positions are very limited.
Turkey has been going through an economic crisis for a number of years now. In addition, the effects of the pandemic, the ensuing inevitable isolation and the various lock-down measures have repeatedly harmed an already precarious Turkish cultural life. The situation worsening to a point that some artists have decided to sell their musical instruments.
Others went so far as to take their own life. The situation has impacted the sector overall and not only popular figures; including clubs, various music groups, street musicians, studio and theatre staff. Although some solidarity concerts, cooperatives, musical composition banks and online initiatives were organised, this has only amounted to very limited support.
Want to discuss cultural issues in your country?
Throughout the Gathering we realised how eager participants were to talk about their experience and issues with the cultural sector in Turkey. People’s Gatherings on a national level such as this one in Turkey are fundamental for informing and developing DiEM Voice as a progressive, transnational arts platform.
You can organise your own People’s Gatherings and talk about your experience and view on the cultural sector in your country, but also many more topics! Find out more about the project here, or during one of our open calls.
We have a new policy agenda for the 2020s!
DiEM25 members have voted in a set of ground-breaking proposals on “What Europe Must Do Now”: our policy for Europe’s 2020s.
It’s been half a decade since DiEM25 was launched to fight Europe’s slide into authoritarianism and renew the European project with a new ambitious purpose: democratisation!
Since then, the political landscape has changed, and we have done our best to remain relevant. This culminated in the vote for “What Europe Must Do Now”: our list of key, priority policies for Europe’s 2020s.
Check out the paper below that DiEM25 members approved in the All-Member-Vote that closed this morning.
What Europe Must Do Now
DiEM25’s Progressive European Policy Agenda for the 2020s
1. Introduction
Covid-19 has unveiled the EU’s lack of institutions that can address a public health crisis. It has also confirmed that the EU continues to lack the institutions necessary to reduce the economic imbalances which undermine the Union, suppress investment and cause preventable economic failures that undercut the life prospects of the majority of Europeans and those residing in Europe. Lastly, the EU has failed to make Europe safer. By refusing to terminate its reliance on fossil fuels, as well as on nuclear weapons for strategic purposes, the EU has reinforced geopolitical tensions, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean.
At the same time, under the guise of a pandemic, the conservatism of Europe intensified and many individual, social and labor rights were violated. In this Europe, which is experiencing the instrumentalization of the pandemic, its peoples are called with the tool of transnational solidarity, to protect the achievements of past struggles but also to build the new, post-capitalist model of production, work and life. We call on us to support public goods, to fight for an open and peaceful Europe and to protect the European human rights acquis based on the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
The EU’s pandemic management makes it clear that a multi-speed Europe, operating in a competitive environment with private-sector criteria and class discrimination, will not be able to cope with future crises. There is a need for a unified European policy with a social, solidarity-based and progressive bent.
DiEM25 is now proposing a Progressive Agenda focusing on PUBLIC HEALTH, SHARED PROSPERITY, and SUSTAINABLE PEACE. Our Agenda comprises policies drawn from DiEM25’s comprehensive Green New Deal for Europe as well as policy initiatives honed at the outset of the 2020 pandemic.
2. Public Health, Shared Prosperity & Sustainable Peace
2.1 Public Health
European public health can no longer remain within the ‘competence’ of nation-states. The pandemic demonstrated that, unless the EU provides basic health services (e.g. vaccines) to all its citizens equally and effectively, the Union is unsafe – some would say pointless.
The pandemic demonstrated that the EU must guarantee its citizens and all those residing in the EU equal access to facilities that provide free testing, free vaccines and free primary care. Basic goods (e.g. test kits, vaccines, protective equipment) must be procured centrally and production must be distributed among the various countries to avoid distribution problems in case of logistical blockages; sizable stocks must be in place everywhere within a well-functioning public health systems and networks. On top of this, focusing on the improvement of basic health and well-being infrastructures and facilities such as: (1) access to clean water and sanitation; (2) effective public sewage systems; (3) clean air; (4) healthy and secure housing; (5) food security; (6) access to mental health services;
Mindful of Europe’s duty to non-European countries in its neighbourhood and beyond, the EU must also donate such basic public health goods and infrastructures internationally to all countries far and wide. E.g. In the case of vaccines, DiEM25’s position is that a rich Europe has an obligation for every vaccine it provides within the EU to have one vaccine distributed internationally or in neighbouring countries. All these basic health goods, both internally and externally, will be financed using the European Central Bank’s lending facility, rather than tight government budgets.
The pandemic has led to a massive increase in economic, health and political inequality on a previously unimaginable scale. It has established unprecedented government control over the populace facilitating growing authoritarian tendencies that are ever more apparent, even in mature democracies. It has favoured capital over labour, enriching by trillions of dollars the wealthiest 1% while destroying millions of jobs and smaller enterprises. It has enlarged the gulf between managerial, intellectual and clerical work, which has been quickly moved online, and frontline and manual workers that have been left exposed to the virus. It has disproportionately hit ethnic minorities and the poorest communities and this pattern of inequality will only be made worse by a global distribution of vaccines that massively favours wealthier nations.
To start reversing this trend of increasing inequality, it’s necessary to put a definite end to the pandemic itself in the shortest possible time on a global scale. The restoration of local public health systems, with a capacity to find, track, trace, isolate and support to isolate is crucial for the successful suppression of pandemics.
Furthermore, DiEM25 demands a massive decrease of high-density factory farming of animal livestock, which is known to increase the likelihood of new zoological pandemics. Simultaneously this will help reaching the goals set to prevent worsening the climate crisis due to the large ecological impact of factory farming.
In the interest of civil liberties and to ensure its citizens the basic privacy rights that Europeans have earned the hard way over centuries of struggles, in times of health emergencies, like the present one, the EU must tread carefully. DiEM25 supports digital technologies which can facilitate an effective track and trace system during a pandemic while safeguarding anonymity. With the exception of specific occupations and workplaces (eg hospitals, nursing homes) where vaccination may be required, DiEM25 supports the development of digital applications that help demonstrate negative tests (eg on Covid-19) as a condition for free movement but not vaccination “passports” that, if introduced, will open the Pandora’s box of privacy breaches by insurance companies, employers and government agencies. In conclusion, DiEM25, despite the fact that it considers vaccines a public good of the highest value, opposes any vaccination “passport” but not digital applications aimed at the temporary certification of negative tests.
2.2 Shared Prosperity
During the recent intensification of the global capitalist economic crisis due to Covid-19, the Eurozone suffered the largest decline in investment (50%), the largest flight of capital (€500 billion) and the largest increase in the “output gap” (i.e. the difference between the total product we could produce and that produced) relative to the US, China and the UK. Moreover, intra-European imbalances (which had already grown before and after the euro crisis) increased exponentially. However, the EU has administered the smallest fiscal stimulus in the strongest economic regions of the world and done the least to boost investment – relying almost exclusively on the so-called Recovery Fund, which is both macroeconomically insignificant and politically poisonous. As a result, the 2020s are projected to be Europe’s second lost decade in a row.
To prevent this, and to give shared European prosperity a chance, DiEM25 has proposed – and is doing so again – five policies:
- ECB-Bonds to lessen the strain on member-state budgets: All primary budget deficits since March 2020 to be financed by means of 30-year bonds issued by the ECB (ECB-bonds). The 30-year-long maturity of the ECB-bonds, to be invested primarily in the public sector, will function as an added incentive for Europe to emerge within three decades. Such a duration essentially gives Europe a deadline three decades to move forward in a democratic political union.
- ECB Bonds to be exchanged for previous (pre-pandemic) bonds with a view to restructuring old debts: Now is the time for public debt of countries that were essentially bankrupt (eg Greece, Italy) before the pandemic to be restructured through debt swaps of national bonds with ECB Eurobonds.
- Solidarity Cash Payments: The ECB initially credits € 2000 to each resident’s main bank account. These payments can be repeated depending on the evolution of active demand, investment and economic activity.
- European Green Recovery & Investment Program: The European Council should give the green light to the European Investment Bank to issue annual bonds of 5% of EU GDP, which the ECB says it will “support” in secondary bond markets. These funds finance a new European institution, the European Green Transition Works Agency whose main purpose is to create the European Green Energy Union and the elaboration of the EU’s Green Transition in general.
- Rescinding all Memorandum commitments: The Eurozone countries most affected by the economic pandemic “happen to be” those that were already irreparably affected by the Euro Crisis – the countries that the Troika “visited” after 2010 and imposed on them disastrous austerity and looting policies that, of course, did not apply in other countries. DiEM25 demands the immediate abolition of all these obligations, which ultimately affect the whole of Europe.
2.3 Sustainable Peace in Europe’s neighbourhood
In 2020 the EU officially endorsed a so-called ‘Green Deal’. Regrettably, it was endorsed “more in the breach than in the observance”: No real funding was ever put aside for this ‘Green Deal’ and, worse still, the EU continues to pursue the extraction and distribution of fossil fuels in a manner that increases geopolitical tensions.
In particular, plans to extract oil and gas in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean are causing geopolitical tensions that only benefit arms dealers and the financial vultures who profit from ‘securitising’ fossil fuels and gas pipelines and that will, most probably, not even see the light of day. They also fuel the pre-existing migration crisis by turning Turkey against the EU and vice versa.
The geopolitical tensions caused by the cynical hypocritical “Green Deal” of the EU are not limited to its southeastern borders. They are expanding to the northeast, where, for example, Germany and Russia are moving along the Nordstream2 pipeline, fostering dark business interests that boost both EU intra-European and international tensions, increase the likelihood of military conflict and, in addition to environmental damage, costs to the people of the region.
For Peace’s sake, and for the sake of European security and sovereignty, this must end. Rising tensions in the east of the EU make the approach and revival of the anti-war front politically and movement-wise a mandatory necessity.
In order to secure the future of the coming generations, DiEM25 calls on all states in Europe to join the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. We call on the EU to support Ukraine in achieving lasting peace with all its neighbours. Enforce the Minsk Agreement also in Ukraine itself.
DiEM25 proposes a new European Initiative for Sustainable Peace and Shared Prosperity.
For the situation in the northeast, DiEM25 proposes the immediate abandonment / abolition of the Nordstream2 pipeline and its replacement within the European Green Energy Network.
For the situation in the south and southeast, DiEM25 proposes the convergence by the EU of an International Conference on Peace & Green Energy in the Mediterranean. The proposal is for representatives of all Mediterranean countries to sit around the same table in order to agree that:
- 2.3.1 The Mediterranean is “liberated” from fossil fuels (ie no mining, no new pipeline) and is connected to the European Green Energy Network which will be financed mainly by the EU through the European Green Recovery and Investment Program (see 2.2.4)
- 2.3.2 they will mark on the same map of each country the requirements regarding the sea borders (ie, continental shelf and EEZ)
- 2.3.3 they will take this map, together, to the International Court of Justice in The Hague having accepted in advance its decision on the final demarcation of the maritime borders
3. Summary
The EU will either unify to confront the prospect of a second, consecutive lost decade, or it will perish. DiEM25’s Progressive European Policy Agenda for the 2020s offers the only path toward unification. The three sets of policies proposed by the first unified pan-European movement are absolutely consistent with the letter of the EU Treaties. Their implementation will bring together:
- protection of public health throughout the European continent
- solidarity with neighbouring and all other countries, which is not only a moral duty for Europe to do but also the only effective measure against pandemics that do not respect borders
- elaboration and financing of the Green Transition without which both society and the Planet will decline
- Adoption of public funding tools for the benefit of many – tools currently widely used for the benefit of the very few.
Only DiEM25’s Progressive European Policy Agenda for the 2020s offers Europe a chance to become a genuine, democratic Union. All other alternatives lead to its disintegration.
Appendix – DiEM25’s post-Pandemic Progressive Policy Agenda in bullets
-
PUBLIC HEALTH
- The provision of basic health goods and care becomes an EU duty
- A new EU Network of Public Primary Health Care Centres easily accessible to every EU citizen and resident offering:
- free testing on demand
- free vaccinations on demand
- general practice care free at the point of delivery
- Centralised procurement for:
- test kits
- vaccines, including the purchase of patents so as to facilitate local production
- basic medicines
- protective equipment
- The EU commits to providing internationally to countries most in need, free of charge, on a 1-on-1 basis, with all of the above essential health goods (see 1.2.1, 1.2.2. & 1.2.3) available within Europe
- Direct funding of 1.2 , 1.3 & 1.4 above utilising ECB instruments. In particular, the EU pays the companies that dispose of these goods through zero coupon perpetual bonds issued by the companies and bought by the ECB
- Vaccination passports and/or certificates are banned, to protect basic privacy rights. Instead, the EU funds the development of applications (apps) that enable an efficient track-and-trace system, securing anonymity and using open source software, to be incorporated in the EU network of public primary health care units mentioned in 1.2 above.
- Europe strongly reduces large-scale factory farming to minimise risks of new pandemics and to enable reaching climate goals.
-
SHARED PROSPERITY
- ECB-Bonds to lessen the strain on member-state budgets: All primary budget deficits since March 2020 to be financed through ECB 30-year bonds. Such a duration effectively gives Europe a three-decade deadline to move towards a democratic political union.
- ECB Bonds to be exchanged for previous (pre-pandemic) bonds to restructure old debts: Now is the time for sovereign debt of countries that were essentially bankrupt (eg Greece, Italy) and before the pandemic to be restructured through exchanges of national bonds with ECB Eurobonds (debt swaps).
- Pan-European Solidarity Direct Payments: The ECB initially credits € 2000 to each resident’s main bank account. These payments can be repeated depending on the evolution of active demand, investment and economic activity.
- European Green Recovery & Investment Program: The European Council should give the green light to the European Investment Bank to issue annual bonds of 5% of EU GDP, which the ECB says it will “support” in secondary bond markets. These funds finance a new European institution, the European Green Transition Works Agency, whose main purpose is to create the European Green Energy Union and to draw up the European Green Transition in general.
- European Green Recovery and Investment Program: Abolition of all memorandum commitments: The eurozone countries hardest hit by the economic pandemic “happen to be” those already hit hard by the Euro crisis – the countries that, after 2010, the troika was “visited” by imposing catastrophic austerity and looting policies which, of course, did not apply in other countries. DiEM25 demands the immediate abolition of all these commitments, which ultimately affect the whole of Europe.
-
SUSTAINABLE PEACE
- Immediate abandonment / abolition of the Nordstream2 pipeline and its replacement within the European Green Energy Union.
- International Conference on Peace & Green Energy in the Mediterranean. The proposal is for representatives of all Mediterranean countries to sit around the same table in order to agree that:
- The Mediterranean is “liberated” from fossil fuels (ie no extraction, no new pipeline) and is connected to the European Green Energy Network which will be financed mainly by the EU through the European Green Recovery and Investment Program (see 2.2.4).
- they will mark on the same map of each country the requirements regarding the sea borders (ie, continental shelf and EEZ)
- they will take this map, together, to the International Court of Justice in The Hague having accepted in advance its decision on the final demarcation of the maritime borders